The night air was cool and calm, carrying the faint sounds of the city settling into its evening rhythm. A small local restaurant sat quietly along the street, its warm lights glowing softly under the dark sky. The place was simple, nothing like the luxurious restaurants many people in the city preferred. A few plastic tables were placed outside, and the smell of freshly cooked tteokbokki drifted through the air.
Dahye arrived first.
She stood near one of the tables outside, her hands tucked into the pockets of her coat. Her heart was beating faster than usual. When she received Yerin's message earlier that night, she hadn't hesitated for a second. She had left immediately, not even bothering to ask where exactly they were going until Yerin sent the location.
Now she waited.
For Yerin.
The sound of approaching footsteps made her turn.
Yerin was walking toward her.
For a moment, Dahye simply looked at her. The soft streetlight illuminated Yerin's face, making her look gentle and almost shy as she approached.
Dahye felt a small sense of relief in her chest.
She was here.
When Yerin stopped in front of her, there was a brief silence between them.
Dahye spoke first.
"You wanted to see me?"
Yerin nodded softly.
"Hmm."
Dahye studied her carefully.
"Before that," she said, folding her arms slightly, "why have you been avoiding me?"
Yerin frowned immediately.
"I'm not avoiding you."
"But you are," Dahye replied calmly.
Yerin shook her head stubbornly.
"If I was avoiding you, that would mean I don't want to talk to you."
Dahye tilted her head slightly.
"Then why?" she asked quietly. "What did I do wrong?"
Yerin hesitated.
For a moment she looked away, her eyes drifting toward the street.
Then she spoke.
"You were smiling and letting that girl flirt with you."
Dahye blinked.
"Oh?"
She paused for a second before suddenly raising an eyebrow.
"Wait," she said slowly, her lips curling into a teasing smile. "Don't tell me you're jealous."
Yerin quickly shook her head.
"I'm not jealous."
Dahye laughed softly.
"Really?"
"Yes."
Yerin crossed her arms and looked away.
"It's not jealousy."
Dahye studied her for a moment before speaking again.
"Yerin," she said gently, "Hae Rin and I are nothing."
She paused.
"I only see her as a younger sister."
Yerin remained quiet.
But her expression didn't soften.
"I still don't like it," she muttered.
Dahye blinked.
"You don't like what?"
"I don't like seeing you with her," Yerin said stubbornly. "I don't care if it's a sister relationship or anything."
Dahye stared at her for a moment.
Then she sighed softly.
"Okay."
Yerin looked up.
Dahye shrugged lightly.
"I'll stop smiling with her if that's what you want."
Yerin blinked in surprise.
"You would do that?"
Dahye smiled.
"If it bothers you that much."
There was a long pause between them.
The tension that had been hanging in the air slowly began to ease.
Yerin looked down at the ground, clearly embarrassed about her earlier reaction.
It took a few moments before she finally relaxed.
Dahye watched her carefully before suddenly chuckling.
"Miss Popular."
Yerin looked up immediately.
"What?"
Dahye crossed her arms and smiled teasingly.
"Miss Popular," she repeated.
Yerin narrowed her eyes.
"What does that mean?"
Dahye shrugged.
"Well… first So Hee confessed to you on the show."
She raised one finger.
"Then Jiyeon."
Another finger.
"And now you're here getting jealous over someone talking to me."
Yerin's face turned slightly red.
"I'm not jealous," she muttered again.
Dahye laughed softly.
"Sure."
She stepped a little closer.
"Then tell me something."
Yerin looked at her.
"What?"
Dahye's voice softened.
"What do you feel about me?"
Yerin froze slightly.
The question hung quietly between them.
For a moment she didn't answer.
Then she looked directly at Dahye.
"If I don't want to see you with anyone else," she said slowly, "what does that mean?"
Dahye blinked.
Then a small smile appeared on her lips.
"That means," she said gently, "you want me for yourself."
Yerin didn't hesitate this time.
"Yes."
Her voice was quiet but firm.
"That means I want you for myself."
She looked straight into Dahye's eyes.
"No one else."
For a moment, Dahye didn't move.
Then her expression softened completely.
She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Yerin, pulling her into a warm embrace.
Yerin froze for a second before slowly hugging her back.
Dahye rested her chin lightly on Yerin's shoulder.
"That means," she whispered softly, "you like me."
Yerin smiled slightly against her shoulder.
"Yes."
The simple answer made Dahye's heart feel impossibly light.
They stayed like that for a moment before slowly pulling apart.
Dahye glanced at the nearby stall.
"Come on," she said. "Let's eat something."
They sat down at one of the small outdoor tables and ordered tteokbokki.
The spicy aroma filled the air as the food arrived.
For the first time that night, their conversation felt easy and relaxed.
They talked about work, about the collaboration project, and about small random things that made them laugh.
But every now and then, their hands would brush against each other on the table.
Neither of them pulled away.
Eventually, it grew late.
Dahye stood up.
"I'll walk you home."
Yerin didn't argue.
The two walked side by side through the quiet streets.
At some point, their hands found each other naturally.
Dahye gently intertwined her fingers with Yerin's.
Neither of them said anything.
But both of them smiled.
When they finally reached Yerin's apartment gate, they stopped walking.
The street was quiet.
The night felt peaceful.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Dahye suddenly stepped closer.
Without warning, she leaned forward and kissed Yerin.
The kiss was slow at first.
Then deeper.
Warmer.
More intense.
Yerin's eyes widened in surprise, but only for a second before she closed them.
Her hands moved to Dahye's coat, holding onto her as the kiss deepened.
The world around them seemed to fade away.
The only thing that mattered in that moment was the warmth between them.
When they finally pulled apart, both of them were slightly breathless.
Dahye rested her forehead lightly against Yerin's.
"Today marks our day one," she said softly.
Yerin smiled.
"Yes."
Dahye looked at her with a gentle expression.
"I love you," she said quietly. "I love you so much."
Yerin's heart skipped.
Then she smiled back at her.
"I love you too."
They stood there for another moment before slowly letting go.
Dahye gave Yerin's hand one last squeeze.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Yerin walked through the gate, turning back once before entering.
Dahye stayed there for a moment, watching until the door closed.
Only then did she finally turn around and walk away.
But this time, there was a smile on her face that refused to disappear.
Because tonight…
Was the beginning of something real.